I am new to the twelve steps and have gotten as far as Step 2 with my sponsor but feel that I would like to have as much feed back as I can. I have had many alcoholics/addicts in my life but my primary alcoholic/addict is my partner. The last 2 years have been like living in my own personal hell and without me realizing it I, myself was getting very "sick". When I first came to Al-anon I immediatley felt abit of relief and now after being in the program for 3 months or so I can say i finally have hope. I should say that i was raised in a very strict religious home and have been turned off of God and organized religion since being Excommunicated at the age of 17. The idea that I am starting to believe that there is something else out there and that my way is no longer working is a HUGE step for me. It feels almost hyprocritical of me to accept that I need a power greater then myself when for years all I was doing was preaching my agnostic views. Does anyone have anything they could share with me about this?
amanda2u2 said
Feb 11, 2007
hi, Step 2 is the 'coming to believe' Step, and most people find that what they believe changes. Either from believing in a Higher Power but changing what they believe about the Higher Power, or from not believing to having some kind of belief, that also keeps changing as the days, months and years go by. To have changing perspectives is normal. Very few of us have the same perspectives about anything as they did when they were 5, or 15, or 25. Having a partner that is an alcoholic puts you in the category that is alanon, and the group here is an active one. They can support you in your growth, learning and practice of the 12 Step program and principles. You can also private message me if you have more concerns about Step 2 that I can help you with, and scroll back through our pages for posts that we have had on Step 2 when we have previously done that. It works if you work it, so work it cuz you're worth it!
love in recovery,
amanda
dot said
Feb 11, 2007
Hi Lost - Welcome - glad you found us.
I too had no religion whn I came to Al-Anon - not really an atheist but for sure an agnostic. I have come to believe that there is something out there that I can believe in. At first it was the tables that were my Higher Power. I went to meetings and I felt better. At times it's Good Orderly Direction and sometimes it's a quiet feeling that I'm no alone.
I'm still not a religious person but the program has taught me that I don't need to know what my Higher Power is - I just need to know that I have one - whether it's the tables or something else - that I can turn to for strength.
Keep coming back and scroll or search for other Step Two shares. We'll start back at Step One after we complete Step Twelve.
Love in Recovery - Dot
Vicky R said
Feb 11, 2007
hi lostnfound welcome , Amanda and Dot have explained well I think how you choose an HP , hope you find it helpful here ,
llol Vickyr x
lostnfound80 said
Feb 12, 2007
Thank you very much for your reply. I appreciate your words of wisdom. I have gone on to Step 3 now, my sponsor thought it best if we moved on to this step. Since i have made a conscious effort to let go and give myself over to my higher power things have seemed to settle down a little..it is by no means completely relieved but just lessoned a little. It is very nice to remove the responsibility i put on myself and trust that i will be taken care of. I learned that my way of dealing with things was not working and that it was just breeding more insanity and to tell you the truth i am so tired of insanity.
Thanks for your support,
Jen=)
Brian said
Feb 14, 2007
Man, just be cool. This thing is going to take a lot of time. Basically, sobering up is about overcoming your anger and jealousy. These are lots of time directed against parents or things out of our control.
The term "control" is important because with it, people put their thoughts into action. Your alcoholism is much more complicated than you understand. After you quit, if you do before your land in prison or get killed -- you will be stunned and baffled over the whole thing. You will never completely connect all of the dots. I don't think, personally, that many true alcoholics are able to recover.
So, primarily, for now -- I recommend, books, water, a daily multi-vitamin (multi-vitamins help your body handle the stresses of sobriety), at least 7 hours sleep a day, less than 3 hours television, and find a mental activity, like buying a Spanish grammar book, or a geometry book -- teach yourself an academic subject.
bse.
Blessed said
Aug 17, 2007
New in the 12-Steps
Hello Everyone!
I Loved to here that I was in Fact a "NEW COMER" when I first got Sober it made me feel so Special. I could raise my shakey hand finally after about the first 30 days that I was in the rooms. I shook all over for the longest time. 2 years and seizures whoopie were they fun!
In some of my postings I have mentioned that I HATED hearing about GOD all the time when I got to the rooms. At that time I had a Sponsor that wasn't very Spiritual but she knew the program well enough to WORk the Steps with me. We went 1 through 12 and I had a SPiritual Awakening as promised on the 12th Step.
I was a very sick woman with a soul sick and into every form of evil that anyone can imagine. SO of course I didn't want to hear about GOD. I was afraid he was going to LAZER ME straight to HE__ for an eternity. That I was at the bottom of the rope and it was sheared off to the tiniest thread before it broke. I NEEDED HELP!
So if theres a GOD I didn't care, I wasn't going to fool around and question this AA thing that promises me a NEW LIFE. I wanted this life, these happy people. These SOBER, HAPPY, PEOPLE. If they could pray and listen to GOD I could at least try. That was a long time ago
Each Sponsor I have had has taught me something new. Something wonderful and a GIFT from the program. I really don't think that I could make it a day without my Higher Power whom I choose to call GOD Jesus Christ.
By working the 12-Steps of Recovery it makes it simple for a Woman that twisted her brain in knots.
Thanks for letting me Post, Thanks for you posting as well,
Blessed
I am new to the twelve steps and have gotten as far as Step 2 with my sponsor but feel that I would like to have as much feed back as I can. I have had many alcoholics/addicts in my life but my primary alcoholic/addict is my partner. The last 2 years have been like living in my own personal hell and without me realizing it I, myself was getting very "sick". When I first came to Al-anon I immediatley felt abit of relief and now after being in the program for 3 months or so I can say i finally have hope. I should say that i was raised in a very strict religious home and have been turned off of God and organized religion since being Excommunicated at the age of 17. The idea that I am starting to believe that there is something else out there and that my way is no longer working is a HUGE step for me. It feels almost hyprocritical of me to accept that I need a power greater then myself when for years all I was doing was preaching my agnostic views. Does anyone have anything they could share with me about this?
It works if you work it, so work it cuz you're worth it!
love in recovery,
amanda
I too had no religion whn I came to Al-Anon - not really an atheist but for sure an agnostic. I have come to believe that there is something out there that I can believe in.
At first it was the tables that were my Higher Power. I went to meetings and I felt better. At times it's Good Orderly Direction and sometimes it's a quiet feeling that I'm no alone.
I'm still not a religious person but the program has taught me that I don't need to know what my Higher Power is - I just need to know that I have one - whether it's the tables or something else - that I can turn to for strength.
Keep coming back and scroll or search for other Step Two shares. We'll start back at Step One after we complete Step Twelve.
Love in Recovery - Dot
llol Vickyr x
Thanks for your support,
Jen=)
The term "control" is important because with it, people put their thoughts into action. Your alcoholism is much more complicated than you understand. After you quit, if you do before your land in prison or get killed -- you will be stunned and baffled over the whole thing. You will never completely connect all of the dots. I don't think, personally, that many true alcoholics are able to recover.
So, primarily, for now -- I recommend, books, water, a daily multi-vitamin (multi-vitamins help your body handle the stresses of sobriety), at least 7 hours sleep a day, less than 3 hours television, and find a mental activity, like buying a Spanish grammar book, or a geometry book -- teach yourself an academic subject.
bse.